Rogers Sports & Media

Rogers Sports & Media is the Canadian media and sports division of Rogers Communications. Its portfolio combines national and regional sports rights, television networks, specialty channels, radio stations, news operations, digital platforms, and selected content and advertising businesses. The division operates the Sportsnet family, which is Rogers's principal sports brand, as well as Citytv, Omni Television, CityNews 24/7, TSC, and a collection of specialty television services. Rogers also owns and operates radio stations in markets across Canada and distributes media through digital products such as Citytv+ and the Seekr radio and podcast application. The business traces its corporate roots to the Rogers family's involvement in Canadian broadcasting. Edward S. Rogers Sr. developed radio technology and established broadcasting interests in the 1920s. After the family business receded from broadcasting following his death, his son Ted Rogers returned to the sector in 1960 by borrowing money to acquire CHFI, an FM radio station in Toronto. The acquisition marked the beginning of the modern Rogers media operation. Rogers subsequently expanded through radio acquisitions, television investments, and larger transactions involving Canadian broadcasting groups. A major early expansion came with the acquisition of CFMT in 1986, Canada's first multicultural television station, followed by the purchase of broadcasting assets from Selkirk Communications in 1989 and Maclean Hunter's broadcasting properties in 1994. Rogers entered a new phase of television expansion in 2007 when it acquired the Citytv stations that CTVglobemedia was required to divest during its acquisition of CHUM Limited. Citytv became a core general-interest television system within the Rogers portfolio, while Omni served multicultural audiences. Sports became increasingly central to the division. Rogers acquired the broadcast assets of Score Media in 2012, later converting The Score Television Network into Sportsnet 360. In 2013, Rogers secured a twelve-year national Canadian media-rights agreement with the National Hockey League beginning with the 2014–15 season. The agreement significantly increased the importance of Sportsnet and gave Rogers national distribution of NHL programming, including Hockey Night in Canada through a sublicensing arrangement with CBC Television. Rogers also expanded its sports programming through agreements involving WWE and other properties. The division has also pursued partnerships with international entertainment companies. It launched Canadian versions of FX and FXX, entered a production and channel venture with Vice Media, and later developed licensing arrangements involving Disney Streaming, Warner Bros. Discovery, and NBCUniversal. These partnerships have changed over time as Rogers, Bell Media, Corus Entertainment, and other Canadian distributors competed for specialty-channel brands and premium content. Rogers reduced its exposure to traditional print publishing during the late 2010s. In 2019, it announced the sale of remaining print publications and related digital assets, including Maclean's, Chatelaine, Hello! Canada, Today's Parent, and the digital operations associated with Canadian Business and Flare, to St. Joseph Communications. In February 2020, Rogers Media adopted the operating name Rogers Sports & Media to emphasize the division's combined sports and media scope, although its legal corporate name remained unchanged. In 2024, Rogers announced several strategic developments. It agreed to carry Canadian factual and lifestyle programming associated with Warner Bros. Discovery brands, announced the relaunch of Bravo in Canada in cooperation with NBCUniversal, introduced the Seekr audio application, and agreed to acquire Bell Canada's interest in Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment. The MLSE transaction increased Rogers's ownership interest to 75 percent and further linked the company's media and sports operations with…

Rogers Sports & Media developed from the Rogers family's early involvement in Canadian radio. Edward S. Rogers Sr. demonstrated the Rogers Batteryless Radio in 1925 and built a radio transmitter in 1927. His broadcasting interests later diminished after his death in 1939, but his son, Ted Rogers, returned the family to the sector in 1960 by borrowing money to acquire Toronto FM station CHFI with Joel Aldred. Rogers subsequently acquired Aldred's interest and continued expanding through radio and television. The business acquired CFMT in 1986, adding Canada's first multicultural television station, and received broadcasting properties from Selkirk Communications in 1989. Its 1994 acquisition of Maclean Hunter broadcasting assets was a major expansion, although some properties were later sold or divested. Rogers also developed a relationship with Sportsnet after Bell-related ownership changes surrounding NetStar resulted in Rogers obtaining full ownership of the sports network. Television expansion accelerated in 2007, when Rogers acquired Citytv stations that had to be divested during CTVglobemedia's purchase of CHUM Limited. Rogers briefly operated CityNews Channel from 2011 to 2013 after CTV retained CP24. In 2011, Rogers partnered with FX Networks to launch FX Canada, followed by FXX and FXNOW Canada in 2014. In 2012, it purchased Score Media's broadcast business; The Score was subsequently transformed into Sportsnet 360. The 2013 NHL agreement was the division's defining sports-rights transaction. Beginning in 2014–15, Rogers became the national Canadian rights holder for NHL broadcasts and out-of-market distribution. Sportsnet carried national programming, while CBC continued Hockey Night in Canada under sublicense. Rogers also expanded its sports portfolio through an agreement with WWE in 2014. Rogers pursued youth and digital media through a 2014 joint venture with Vice Media. The partnership produced Canadian Vice-branded content and led to the Canadian launch of Viceland in 2016, but Rogers later withdrew and the channel closed in 2018. Other specialty operations also changed: G4 Canada closed in 2017, while the company continued to adjust its channel portfolio and partnerships. The company reduced its print publishing activities in 2019 by selling remaining print publications and associated digital properties to St. Joseph Communications. In 2020, the operating identity changed from Rogers Media to Rogers Sports & Media, signaling the strategic importance of sports alongside television, radio, news, and digital media. From 2023 onward, Rogers emphasized distribution partnerships and platform expansion. It took responsibility for advertising sales for Disney+'s ad-supported Canadian service, agreed in 2024 to carry Warner Bros. Discovery factual brands, and announced a Canadian Bravo relaunch with NBCUniversal. The division launched Seekr for radio and podcasts and expanded its sports ownership position through the planned acquisition of Bell's stake in Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment. These moves reinforced Rogers's position as a vertically integrated Canadian media and sports group.

• 2024

  Audio, television licensing, and sports ownership expansion

  [1]Rogers Sports & Mediaen.wikipedia.org

  Rogers announced Seekr, new television licensing arrangements, and an agreement to increase its MLSE ownership to 75 percent.

• 2020

  Operating name changed to Rogers Sports & Media

  [1]Rogers Sports & Mediaen.wikipedia.org

  Rogers Media adopted the Rogers Sports & Media name to represent its combined sports and media portfolio.

• 2013

  National NHL rights agreement

  [1]Rogers Sports & Mediaen.wikipedia.org

  Rogers announced a long-term agreement to become the NHL's exclusive national Canadian media-rights holder.

• 2012

  Score Media broadcast assets acquired

  [1]Rogers Sports & Mediaen.wikipedia.org

  Rogers acquired Score Media's broadcast business, later rebranding The Score as Sportsnet 360.

• 2007

  Citytv expansion

  [1]Rogers Sports & Mediaen.wikipedia.org

  Rogers acquired Citytv stations divested during the CTVglobemedia–CHUM transaction.

• 1994

  Maclean Hunter broadcasting acquisition

  [1]Rogers Sports & Mediaen.wikipedia.org

  Rogers acquired Maclean Hunter's broadcasting properties, substantially expanding its media holdings.

• 1986

  CFMT acquisition

  [1]Rogers Sports & Mediaen.wikipedia.org

  Rogers acquired CFMT, a pioneering multicultural television station in Canada.

• 1960

  Modern Rogers broadcasting business begins

  [1]Rogers Sports & Mediaen.wikipedia.org

  Ted Rogers and Joel Aldred acquired CHFI, establishing the foundation of the modern Rogers media operation.

A diversified Canadian media operator built around sports rights, mass-market television, multicultural broadcasting, radio, digital distribution, and advertising. Sportsnet and Rogers's sports holdings provide the division with a national sports identity, while Citytv, Omni, radio, and specialty channels broaden its general-audience reach.

• Sports television and media

  Sportsnet

  Sportsnet is Rogers's principal sports media brand and a family of Canadian sports channels. It carries national and regional programming across professional and other sports, with the NHL forming a central part of its identity since Rogers became the national Canadian rights holder in the 2014–15 season. The broader Sportsnet operation also includes digital content, streaming and out-of-market distribution services, and sports journalism.

• English-language television

  Citytv

  Citytv is Rogers's English-language conventional television system. It combines local news and information programming with entertainment, lifestyle, syndicated, and network content. Rogers acquired the Citytv stations in 2007, making the system a central general-audience television property alongside the company's sports and specialty-channel operations.

• Multicultural television · 1986

  Omni Television

  Omni Television is Rogers's multicultural-oriented television system. Its programming serves Canada's diverse communities through multilingual and multicultural content, news, and entertainment. The brand originates from Rogers's 1986 acquisition of CFMT, which was a pioneering multicultural station in the Canadian television market.

• Sports television · 2013

  Sportsnet 360

  Sportsnet 360 is a sports specialty channel created through the rebranding of The Score Television Network after Rogers acquired Score Media's broadcast assets. It complements the main Sportsnet channels with sports news, analysis, live events, and programming such as WWE content under Rogers's Canadian distribution agreements.

• News television

  CityNews 24/7

  CityNews 24/7 is a continuous news service within Rogers's CityNews portfolio. It extends the local-news identity associated with Citytv into an always-on channel and digital distribution environment.

• Radio broadcasting

  Rogers Radio

  Rogers Radio operates radio stations in communities across Canada, spanning music, news, talk, sports, and local programming formats. The division's radio holdings are an important part of Rogers's advertising and local-content infrastructure and are increasingly connected to digital audio distribution.

• Digital audio · 2024

  Seekr

  Seekr is an internet radio and podcast application launched by Rogers in 2024. It brings together radio stations and podcasts from across Rogers Sports & Media, extending the division's audio assets into a dedicated digital product while Rogers maintains a separate relationship with Radioplayer Canada.

• Streaming video

  Citytv+

  Citytv+ is a Rogers digital video platform used to distribute Citytv programming and selected licensed content. Under the 2024 Warner Bros. Discovery arrangement, additional factual and lifestyle programming was planned for streaming through Rogers platforms, including Citytv+.

• 2024

  Bell dispute over Warner Bros. Discovery licensing

  Bell Media challenged Rogers's planned use of Warner Bros. Discovery factual brands in Canada, arguing that non-compete provisions in Bell's outgoing arrangements restricted the launch. Bell sought injunctive relief and initially sought monetary damages. After Rogers stated that Warner Bros. Discovery had not disclosed the provisions, Bell withdrew its monetary claim against Rogers while continuing related claims against Warner Bros. Discovery.

  Source

• 2024

  Corus regulatory complaint concerning Disney+ distribution

  Corus filed a complaint with the CRTC alleging that Rogers used its cable distribution position and the placement of Disney+'s ad-supported service to disadvantage Corus's Disney-licensed specialty channels. Rogers denied wrongdoing and criticized Corus's business model and channel strategy.

  Source

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• 2024

  Agreement to acquire Bell's MLSE interestM&A

  Background

  Rogers sought to increase its ownership and strategic control of one of Canada's largest sports and entertainment organizations.

  Action taken

  Rogers agreed to acquire Bell Canada's 37.5 percent stake in Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, increasing its ownership interest to 75 percent.

  Aftermath

  The transaction further integrated Rogers's media business with major Canadian professional sports assets.

  Purchase price. 4.7 billion Canadian dollars (Agreement announced in 2024)

  Source

• 2020

  Rebranding as Rogers Sports & MediaStrategy

  Background

  The previous Rogers Media name no longer fully represented the division's combination of sports, television, radio, news, and digital properties.

  Action taken

  Rogers adopted Rogers Sports & Media as the division's operating name while retaining its existing legal corporate identity.

  Aftermath

  The new name foregrounded sports as a strategic pillar of the broader media portfolio.

  Source

• 2013

  National NHL media-rights agreementStrategy

  Background

  Rogers aimed to make sports a national pillar of its media business and expand Sportsnet's role in Canadian television.

  Action taken

  Rogers secured exclusive national Canadian NHL media rights beginning with the 2014–15 season and arranged for CBC programming to continue through sublicensing.

  Aftermath

  The agreement made NHL programming central to Sportsnet and materially increased Rogers's role in Canadian sports broadcasting.

  Contract value. 5.2 billion Canadian dollars (12-year agreement announced in 2013)

  Source

• 2012

  Acquisition of Score Media's broadcast businessM&A

  Background

  Rogers sought to expand its sports television portfolio and strengthen Sportsnet's position in Canada's sports-media market.

  Action taken

  Rogers acquired the broadcast business of Score Media and later rebranded The Score Television Network as Sportsnet 360.

  Aftermath

  The transaction added a dedicated sports channel and broadened Rogers's sports programming and distribution assets.

  Transaction value. 167 million Canadian dollars, including a 10 percent interest in Score Media's digital business (2012)

  Source

• 2021.06.04

  Reported2021.06.04

  Rogers announces CityNews rebrand for Canadian radio stations[2]Rogers 宣布加拿大广播电台将更名为 CityNewstoronto.citynews.ca

  Rogers Sports & Media announced that its news radio stations, including 680 NEWS, would be rebranded under CityNews in fall 2021; the article says the change is to brand identity only and that the stations would continue providing the same content.

Read more

1. 1Rogers Sports & Mediaen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Rogers 宣布加拿大广播电台将更名为 CityNewstoronto.citynews.ca